Test Information Guide
Field 78: General Curriculum
Subtest 1: Language Arts and History/Social Science
Sample Open-Response Item
The following materials contain:
- Sample test directions for the open-response item
- A sample open-response item
- An example of a strong response to the open-response item
- The scoring rubric
Sample Test Directions for Open-Response Items
This section of the test consists of two open-response item assignments. You will be asked to prepare a written response of approximately 150to300 words, or 1to2 pages, for each assignment.
Read the assignments carefully before you begin your responses. Think about how you will organize your responses. You may use the erasable sheet(s) to make notes, write an outline, or otherwise prepare your responses. However, your final response to each assignment must be either:
- typed into the on-screen response box,
- written on a response sheet and scanned using the scanner provided at your workstation, or
- provided using both the on-screen response box (for typed text) and a response sheet (for calculations or drawings) that you will scan using the scanner provided at your workstation.
Instructions for scanning your response sheet(s) are available by clicking the "Scanning Help" button at the top of the screen.
As a whole, your response to each assignment must demonstrate an understanding of the knowledge of the field. In your response to each assignment, you are expected to demonstrate the depth of your understanding of the subject area by applying your knowledge rather than by merely reciting factual information.
Your response to each assignment will be evaluated based on the following criteria.
- PURPOSE: the extent to which the response achieves the purpose of the assignment
- SUBJECT KNOWLEDGE: appropriateness and accuracy in the application of subject knowledge
- SUPPORT: quality and relevance of supporting evidence
- RATIONALE: soundness of argument and degree of understanding of the subject area
The open-response item assignments are intended to assess subject knowledge. Your responses must be communicated clearly enough to permit valid judgment of the evaluation criteria by scorers. Your responses should be written for an audience of educators in this field. The final version of each response should conform to the conventions of edited American English. Your responses should be your original work, written in your own words, and not copied or paraphrased from some other work.
Be sure to write about the assigned topics. Remember to review your work and make any changes you think will improve your responses.
Any time spent responding to an assignment, including scanning the response sheet(s), is part of your testing time. Monitor your time carefully. When your testing time expires, a pop-up message will appear on-screen indicating the conclusion of your test session. Only response sheets that are scanned before you end your test or before time has expired will be scored. Any response sheet that is not scanned before testing ends will NOT be scored.
Sample Open-Response Item
Objective 0010
Prepare an organized, developed written analysis comparing the treatment of a specific history/social science topic in given primary and secondary sources.
Use the information provided in the exhibits to complete the assignment that follows.
Compare the way the two sources approach the significance of the Magna Carta. Write a response of approximately 150–300 words in which you:
- determine and compare the main ideas or information presented in each source;
- analyze and compare the purpose and point of view of each source; and
- integrate information and cite evidence from the two sources to support your comparison.
Be sure to cite specific evidence from the sources in your response.
Exhibit: Source 1
Magna Carta, 12 15
Context: Magna Carta Libertatum, commonly entitled Magna Carta, was a royal charter of rights agreed to by King John of England in June 12 15. The excerpt is from a translation of the original 12 15 edition of the Magna Carta from Latin into modern English.
(1) In the first place we have granted to God, and by this our present charter confirmed for us and our heirs for ever that the English church shall be free, and shall have her rights entire, and her liberties inviolate; and we will that it be thus observed; which is apparent from this that the freedom of elections, which is reckoned most important and very essential to the English church, we, of our pure and unconstrained will, did grant, and did by our charter confirm and did obtain the ratification of the same from our lord, Pope Innocent III., before the quarrel arose between us and our barons: and this we will observe, and our will is that it be observed in good faith by our heirs for ever.
(39) No freeman shall be taken or [and] imprisoned or disseised1 or exiled or in any way destroyed, nor will we go upon him nor send upon him, except by the lawful judgment of his peers or [and] by the law of the land.
Exhibit: Source 2
William Sharp McKechnie, Magna Carta: A Commentary on the Great Charter of King John, with an Historical Introduction, 19 14
Context: McKechnie was a historian at the University of Glasgow in Scotland.
It is thus necessary briefly to narrate how the scattered Anglo-Saxon and Danish tribes and territories, originally unconnected, were slowly welded together and grew into England; how this fusion was made permanent by the growth of a strong centralized government which crushed out local independence, and threatened to become the most absolute despotism1 in Europe; how, finally, the Crown, because of the very plenitude of its power, called into play opposing forces, which set limits to royal prerogatives and laid the foundations of the reign of law. Such a survey of the early history of England reveals two leading movements; the establishment of a strong Monarchy able to bring order out of anarchy, and the establishment of safeguards to prevent this source of order from degenerating into an unrestrained tyranny, and so crushing out not merely anarchy but legitimate freedom as well. The later movement, in favour of liberty and the Great Charter, was the natural complement, and, in part, the consequence of the earlier movement in the direction of a strong government able to enforce peace. In historical sequence, order precedes freedom.
1despotism: the exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way (Oxford dictionary)
Sample Strong Response to the Open-Response Item
Coming late Summer 2023
Scoring Rubric
Performance Characteristics
The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the open-response item(s).
Purpose | The extent to which the response achieves the purpose of the assignment. |
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Subject Matter Knowledge | Accuracy and appropriateness in the application of subject matter knowledge. |
Support | Quality and relevance of supporting details. |
Rationale | Soundness of argument and degree of understanding of the subject matter. |
Scoring Scale
The scoring scale below, which is related to the performance characteristics for the tests, is used by scorers in assigning scores to responses to the open-response item(s).
Score Point | Score Point Description |
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4 |
The "4" response reflects a thorough knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
|
3 | The "3" response reflects an adequate knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
|
2 | The "2" response reflects a limited knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
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1 | The "1" response reflects a weak knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
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U | The response is unrelated to the assigned topic, illegible, primarily in a language other than English, not of sufficient length to score, or merely a repetition of the assignment. |
B | There is no response to the assignment. |